These are fraught times in the realm of war and peace. Many would agree readily that peace is much more than the absence of war. So – what else is involved? Today’s homily will offer a larger context for peacemaking –nourished by the Shalom of God – a state of total well-being. It begins with the small, everyday things we can offer to one another – with clarity and purpose. It accumulates!

This weekend we will be focusing on 'The Season of Creation '. This annual global, ecumenical Christian celebration which starts on September First and goes to October fourth , is a time dedicated to caring for creation through prayer, reflection and action.

Claire shares her spiritual journey from a dyed in the wool Catholic upbringing through different spiritual influences to her present day home with St Mary’s in Exile.

The recent Australian Bishops' Conference released a statement on Social Justice as it affects the homeless and those with mental illness. Karyn will be addressing these issues in the light of the work of Micah Projects.

This week, Narelle speaks of the challenge of being grateful for the “little things” with a gospel reminder from Jesus for the people to open their eyes to what is going on around them. We are urged to move beyond what we enjoy and to seek even the smallest of opportunities to practise gratitude, preparing the way for kindness and justice.

Our lives are cluttered with so much thought. From the moment we wake to the moment we sleep. Cultural conditions from our past, fears of the future and emotions about our current situation. Eckart Tolle says: "Most people are so completely identified with the voice in the head—the incessant stream of involuntary and compulsive thinking and the emotions that accompany it—that we may describe them as being possessed by their mind". Releasing ourselves from this can empower our true selves to take a different, kinder, just and compassionate path.

This weekend Terry will pay tribute to the late great Joanna Macy, who passed away recently on the 19th July aged 96. She was an environmental activist, author and scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory and deep ecology.

One of the Guiding Principles of St Mary’s in Exile is the quote from the prophet Micah,( 6:8), To act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God. Margaret will reflect on this quote in light of Richard Rohr’s latest book, The Tears of Things, which addresses the question of how do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair?

The reading from John’s Gospel about the vine and the branches reminds us that Jesus is the true vine from whom we learn how to live authentic and abundant lives of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and, thus, transform ourselves and our world.